Well in retrospect, they changed the gameplay of Halo 2 from its predecessor (removal of health system, grenade throwing, weapons, jumping, etc). And I have played the Beta. The gameplay was nothing too terribly new, and the features they added only boosted the level of gameplay even more. It added a new element of strategy to the game. Halo 2 was purely run-and-gun. Now with the bubble shield, force-fields (on doors and passages), trip mines, the portable gravity lift, etc has added a little more caution and wit. Granted, the gameplay is still as fast paced as it ever was. Plus the film capture feature and ability to upload up to 5 of your best game films is nice. Also, the new emblems, call sign system, and larger color palette allows for more customization while the game’s interface allows you to change everything from the lobby, your appearance, game type, network choice, and post game stats is a plus. Maybe they didn’t want to overhype it and let the game speak for itself.
